X-Men: Come the Apocalypse (pt. 13) Author: Nathan Summers Date: 1997/11/27 Forum: alt.comics.fan-fiction {Bishop}: We're about to what!?! {Mainframe}: You have a problem with landing on the moon? {Bishop}: We can't land on the moon. The diameter of this ship is greater than that of earth's moon. Our gravity will totally wipe it out! {Mainframe}: Not _this_ ship. {Bishop}: What do you mean by, not this ship? {Mainframe}: This vessel we are in now has since detached from the main ship. It is about the size of your Empire State building in human standards. {Bishop}: Well when are we going to land? {Mainframe}: Right... Now. {Bishop}: That landing was lighter than I would've expected. {Mainframe}: Yes, well, I have things to do now. {Bishop}: Where are you going? {Mainframe}: Out there, you fool! Where did you think I was going? {Bishop}: You can't just walk out there! That vacum will-- {Mainframe}: Idiot! Apocalypse's former base was on the Blue Area of the moon. The atmosphere there is much like that of earth's. Besides, I have evolved to such a degree that I no longer require oxygen to survive. You, on the other hand, need it and are lucky that the base was located here. You will, after all, be slaves. {Bishop}: Of course. Well don't let me keep you waiting. {Mainframe}: I don't much appreciate your sarcasm, but I havn't the time to discipline you. {Deathbird}: Discipline? {Bishop}: He's gone. Now's the moment I've been waiting for. {Deathbird}: You have a plan? Then you are a true warrior. I like that. {Bishop}: Mainframe didn't bother shutting our powers down or anything like that because he knew that we couldn't use them to escape. I don't have any energy stored up, so all he had to do was shackle me. You also have strong bonds that you couldn't break free of with your enhanced strength. Your other abilities would do you no good either. {Deathbird}: So what do we do? {Bishop}: I've been waiting for him to leave so I could do... Bishop flings himself into the bars of energy which lock them in the enclosure. He does it repeatedly, trying to absorb as much of the energy as he can. It's rather unorthodox, and it causes him quite some pain, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And Bishop and Deathbird are indeed desperate. Whatever gets the job done. {Bishop}: ...This! {Deathbird}: That looks difficult. And painful. {Bishop}: It is. On both accounts. But it does work. I can feel the energy circulating through me. Yes... it's surging up! Stand back. The shackles which hold Bishop's hands behind his back begin to heat up. They give off smoke and become red and then white hot. Seconds later, the shackles explode into shapnel and Bishop's hands are free. He grabs two of the energy beams before him and holds on, eating up more power. {Bishop}: Oh my God. If it weren't for my power to absorb energy like this, I would be incinerated. My hands have already gone numb from the pain. A circuit board on the wall next to him begins to spark and sizzle as Bishop overloads the system. The energy beams then totally shut down. {Bishop}: I guess I blew a fuse. {Deathbird}: You dare joke in such a serious situation!?! {Bishop}: Irony tends to have that affect on us humans. Well, we are almost free. Turn around so I can destroy those bonds. {Deathbird}: No! You must conserve your energy for battle. {Bishop}: Sorry to disappoint you, but there won't be any battle. I'm still trying to escape. {Deathbird}: Warriors do not run! Warriors fight! {Bishop}: Stubborn ones do. I've been fighting long enough to know _when_ to fight. Sometimes you have to run in order to fight. Now turn around, I'll need your hands. {Deathbird}: I wish to fight. {Bishop}: Damnit, we can't fight! Not yet at least. We have to escape before we can fight. Get it? {Deathbird}: Very well. Deathbird hastily agrees. Bishop sums up just barely enough power to blow her restraints apart, as not to waste any energy. He then tries the sliding door which Mainframe used to get out. {Bishop}: No good. It must have an automatic lock. I'll have to blow it down. Hopefully, it isn't made of adamantuim. Vibranium would be worse. Can't use too much power. Gotta do this easy and carefully. Here goes! Estimating how much power he would require, Bishop lets loose an incredible blast from both hands. He apparently calculated correctly because the door exploded on impact. {Bishop}: We've got to move fast! Come on. {Deathbird}: Why did you need my hands? {Bishop}: Because there's a stargate over here. {Deathbird}: How did you know that? {Bishop}: I've done extensive research on the geography of this part of the moon. It is quite astounding. In my studies, I've come across many of the ancient, by your standards, devices here. We're almost there. {Deathbird}: You still havn't answered my question. {Bishop}: You know how to operate that thing don't you? {Deathbird}: Yes, but-- {Bishop}: Good. That's all I needed to know. Any sign of Mainframe? {Deathbird}: I can see him off in the distance. He doesn't suspect anything. {Bishop}: Okay, we made it. Activate that thing. {Deathbird}: We can't just go anywhere. We have to contact another stargate. It works much like your "telephone." {Bishop}: Well I guess that makes sense. I wonder... {Deathbird}: What? {Bishop}: The teleporters at the X-Mansion are Shi'ar technology. They were based on the stargate, only designed a little differently. I remember doing repair work on them several times. {Deathbird}: Hmmm? I'll see what I can do. So far, so good. Code please? {Bishop}: Code? {Deathbird}: Each stargate has a code. You simply plug in the code of the stargate at your destination, and it takes you there. {Bishop}: That is a lot like a phone. Let's see... I seem to recall a strange series of numbers several times when I was repairing our teleporters. I just thought it was some kind of serial number, though it was a little odd. Maybe this stargate will recognize it and take us to the mansion? {Deathbird}: It's worth a try. That number please? {Bishop}: It was... 1123-578-98768-001231-1223-010780 {Deathbird}: Got it. Good thing translation from English to Shi'ar is rather simple. {Bishop}: Don't ask me how I remembered that. {Deathbird}: Now... We are ready. Powering up... Wait a few moments. Damnit! {Bishop}: What is it? What's wrong? {Deathbird}: A safety precaution. It may not have sufficient power to transport us such a distance. This stargate has "little fuel." It is powering down. {Bishop}: Then I'll fix it! Bishop knows this is his last oppurtunity to get home. He blasts the arching structure with all of his power, giving it everything he's got. He isn't sure where exactly to aim, so he sprays it everywhere. {Bishop}: Hopefully, this thing will find some energy to draw out of my blast to use as "fuel." {Deathbird}: It better be quick, because Mainframe has spotted us! {Bishop}: What? {Deathbird}: He's headed this way on a glider. {Bishop}: Come on, work with me! {Deathbird}: Yes! It _is_ working. The energy level is greatly increasing. {Bishop}: Hey, the Phoenix did this, why can't I? {Deathbird}: That human irony thing again? {Bishop}: Yep. I'm running on empty here. {Deathbird}: The stargate is almost... yes! It's fully recharged! {Bishop}: I'm gonna shove all I've got into this thing just to be safe. Uhhh... There. I'm out. {Mainframe}: Stop! What are you doing? How did you get out here? {Bishop}: Do it! {Deathnbird}: I'm going as fast as I can! Now go, blast you, go! Ready! The large open space in the middle of the stargate begins to fill up with some kind of energy. Once it is full, that is their cue to move. {Bishop}: Go! I'll be right behind you. Deathbird dives through, and Bishop does something unexpected. Just before entering, Bishop blasts the the computer panel with all of the power he had left. He mostly got it from sheer determination. He makes it through and the stargate explodes behind him. One can't be sure at this moment whether they made it through or not. Mainframe is most definitely dead if he attempted to go through after the explosion. However, if he held back, survived the back-lash, he might just still be alive to haunt us. Apocalypse's current sanctum within an Egyptian Pyramid... {Random}: Answers, little man. Now! {Ozymandias}: No hurry, you'll get your answers. First I must know the questions. {Random}: For starters, how did I get here? {Ozymandias}: Have you heard of Apocalypse? {Random}: You can't answer a question with a question. {Ozymandias}: It is important. {Random}: Yeah, I know who he is. McCoy used to talk about him all the time when I worked for him. {Ozymandias}: Good! That will make your questions easier to answer. {Random}: So? {Ozymandias}: After Havok apparently melted you, I was sent by Apocalypse to retrieve what was left. I found a puddle of you down in a sewer not far from your battle site. I gathered your remains into a beaker and brought it back here. Those remains were then placed into a special container which was locked into a machine. It is behind you now. {Random}: Uh, huh. I follow you. {Ozymandias}: After receiving a cocktail of protons, ions, atoms, various particles, electrons, plasma, gamma rays, x-rays, ultra-violet rays, and others to numerous to name, as well as some liquid chemicals, you were remade. {Random}: Y- You did it? You reformed me? {Ozymandias}: I said remade. You can now not only transform your hands into firearms, but any weapon. Your ability to counter-act any attack against you has also been improved upon greatly. Just by thinking about it, Random transforms his left arm into a firearm, and his right into a battle axe. {Random}: I think I'll like this. {Ozymandias}: Nothing is free in this world. {Random}: Ah, the catch. What do you want me to do? {Ozymandias}: It really isn't much. All you have to do is agree to join Apocalypse's Dark Riders. {Random}: How might I do that? {Ozymandias}: Apocalypse will meet with you soon. {Random}: Oh. I'm sure there's more to it than that, though. What if I say no? {Ozymandias}: Then your new powers will be removed and your memory of this event will be erased. {Random}: But I won't be reduced to a puddle of goop again? {Ozymandias}: Your own metabolism will probably see to that. You will constantly be struggling to keep yourself from breaking down. You will wish you were a pile of goop. {Random}: Guess I can't argue with that then. Mr. whatever, you've got yourself a deal. Tokyo... {Sabenur}: Hello, there, Mr. eh, Magnum. {Moses Magnun}: What? Who is there? Who knows me? {Sabenur}: My name is Mr. Sabenur. Why are you here? {Moses Magnum}: I... do not know. Something was drawing me here. {Sabenur}: That would be me. Tell me, how did you get your powers? {Moses Magnum}: Why are you asking me these questions? Who are you? {Sabenur}: I told you who I was. {Magnum}: The truth is, these powers came from an accident. I was testing my special laser for Stark Interprises many years ago on the island of Katsyu Shima. The laser had bored a hole into the center of the earth, when an unexpected earthquake came by. The small hole was turned into a deed pit, a chasm which I fell from my high-rise platform into. I must say, the sensation of the earthquake flowing through me in vibrational waves was quite incredible. Then I noticed that the laser was still running. It blasted me and combined the vibrations of the quake with its own energies. I was transformed into something totally different. I should have died down there. Instead, I awoke with strange abilities but unharmed. To this day, I have yet to discover why I survived. {Sabenur}: You think that incident was one big coincidence, don't you? You think that an earthquake just happened to pass by one day, when a certain individual was testing a laser. You are wrong. I can tell you that I created that quake. I am responsible for your creation. I saved you just before you fell into molten maga at the earth's core. I used my technology to resucitate you. I erased your memory of ever meeting me and sent you on your way. {Magnum}: Why on earth should I believe that? {Sabenur}: I will show you. Sabenur lunges with his left hand and places each finger on a certain point on Magnum's head. Each finger applies different amounts of pressure and Magnum's eyes roll back. Sabenur remains impassive throughout the trance. Soon, he is brought out of it. {Magnum}: I- I saw-- {Sabenur}: I restored your memories. {Magnum}: Yes. Yes, you did. And strangely, I know it's the truth. And you want me as part of the... Dark Riders or something? {Sabenur}: Yes. {Magnum}: I suppose I owe you for granting me these powers. I will go. {Sabenur}: My disguise is no longer necessary. {Magnum}: You do look better in your true form... Apocalypse. Back at Egypt... {Cyclops}: They can't do jack against all of us put together. Let's end this quickly! Cyclops squeezes his palms and opens his visor with the special activators attuned to it there. A long stream carries Ever off his feet and into the wall, ten feet away. {Wolverine}: Well, you heard the man! (thinking) even though Storm's still officially the leader. With great ease, Wolverien jumps over Vessel's head and comes down bearing his claws, ready to impale him. Vessel throws his left hand forward and downs Logan with a blast from it. {Wolverine}: Where the hell did that come from?!? {Vessel}: I can concentrate the souls which inhabit me into a concussive force blast. It takes a bit out of me, but I recover quickly. {Wolverine}: That's funny, so do I! Meanwhile, most were too distracted to notice Sack slowly taking possession of the sickened Psylocke. Most, but not all. {Havok}: Angel, help me over here! Sack's about to possess Betsy! {Angel}: Shit, we're too late. {Sack/Psylocke}: This shell suits me. I will soon learn how to use all of Psylocke's abilities. {Havok}: Angel, follow my plan. As Havok blasts near Sack/Psylocke to get "its" attention, Angel moves in from behind and swings, attempting to hit it in the back of the head. Psylocke/Sack ducks and Angel instead catches Havok in the lip. {Sack/Psylocke}: I'm afraid you're just too slow. It then elbows Angel in one of his temples, knocking him out for the moment. {Havok}: Ouch. That hurt. {Sack/Psylocke}: Still too slow. It grabs Havok's shoulders and flips over his head, twirling around once while in the air. {Havok}: What the hell? Acchh... she, er he's got me in a bad position. Can't move my arms. Can't move period! Psylocke/Sack keeps Havok in the vise-like grip and prepares to finish him with the psychic knife. Just as it plunges the blade into his head, an enormous plasma blast explodes from Havok's body. The back-lash really rips them apart. When the dust settles, Havok is on his knees, and Sack and Betsy are separated. Both appear to be unconscious. {Hemingway}: ARRRGGGHHH!!!! {Storm}: My lightning blasts are more than enough to bring you to the ground. {Wolverine}: Yeah, but my claws will help out a little. {Hemingway}: YEEAAARRGGGHHH!!! Hemingway doesn't fare well against the might of Storm and Wolverine's maulings. It won't be long before he is taken out of the fight. WHAM! Vessel stumbles back after a tremendous blow from Rogue. Stumbles back into the hurling Beast, who drop kicks him in the back. Vessel stops abruptly and falls over. {Iceman}: Watch the skies, big man! Iceman comes in from above on an ice slide and fires several tiny hail stones at Vessel's head. Dazed and disoriented, Vessel gets up and faces off against Gambit. {Gambit}: You probably not expectin' dis! The kinetically charged playing cards explode on Vessel's chest, and the impact carries him through the air. Vessel shakes his head around and passes out from exhaustion. Cyclops prepares to finish off Ever, but sees he's already out cold. Hemingway has since been defeated by Wolverine and Storm. Angel is getting back up, Havok is fully recovered, and Psylocke is conscious again. Suddenly, Ozymandias' face appears on the monitor high up on the wall. {Ozymandias}: I figured that wouldn't take you long. {Cyclops}: What was the point of that little exercise? {Ozyandias}: I am holding nine of your teammates prisoner here. Each round you win, you have effectively saved three. {Cyclops}: So we're supposed to play three rounds? {Ozymandias}: Correct. This was little more than a warm-up exercise. Next, you'll face the new Dark Riders. After that, the Horsemen. If you survive. Those of you still living once the game is over will stand by Apocalypse's side as servants. Those who refuse will be killed. {Cyclops}: Game? We're talking about lives here! {Ozymandias}: Ideed. For those of you that die, one of your teammates will be killed. {Wolverine}: That's sick! Have you been taking lessons from Arcade? {Angel}: Arcade wouldn't even sink that low. Hold up... there were nineteen of us. Eleven of us are here. You say you've got the other nine-- Cable, Domino, Caliban, Nate Grey, Maggott, Cecilia Reyes, Cannonball, and Joseph. Who's the one left over? {Ozymandias}: I can't give you that knowledge. That person is male though, and he is a friend. A close one. That is all I will say. {Gambit}: How can we fight to save somebody if we don' know who he is, eh? {Ozymandias}: You will be given a moment to prepare. The Dark Riders are next. They should give you more of a challenge then the Hounds, though they served their purpose. {Cyclops}: Wait! I'm not finished with you yet! Come back! {Havok}: Forget it. I think we're skrewed. Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I'll see you here on A.C.F.F. next Wednesday! Bye now!